Is My PSA Prostate Test Result ‘Normal’?

By: Pranav D. Parikh, M.D.

Your number might be 4, or it might be 7. But know this: When it comes to your PSA prostate test, what’s “normal” for you is unique – and just the first step to detecting the risk of prostate cancer.

That risk has been gradually growing since 2014. In the state of Pennsylvania, an estimated 13,000 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2024 – that’s of 299,000 new cases in the entire country, the American Cancer Society reports. In 2025, the national figure is expected to climb to 314,000.

Many of these cases will likely be diagnosed through a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test, a blood screening that measures the amount of a cancer-marking protein, called antigen, your prostate gland makes.

But what is a “normal” level of PSA? That depends on you.

Historically, medical experts considered a normal PSA prostate test reading as 4 nanograms or fewer of antigen per a milliliter of blood. However, many variables can alter what’s “normal” from man to man, research shows. A healthy reading for you might be high-risk for someone else.

What is not normal is a relative increase of your score. A PSA increase of 0.75 ng/mL or more within a year may be concerning, especially when considered alongside relative increases compared to your prior values or if you are at higher risk—such as having a family history of prostate cancer.

What Your Prostate-Specific Antigen Level Reveals

June is an opportune time to schedule a first (or follow-up) PSA screening because it’s Men’s Health Month, an annual event that will remind you each year to get all your preventive screenings.

Here’s another reason why the timing of your first PSA prostate test is important: The sooner you get tested, the more accurate your PSA baseline, to which all future tests are compared. The more regularly you get your screenings, the better the chances your doctor will catch a change in your PSA level.

This is because PSA is a protein made by all of the cells in your prostate gland, both healthy and potentially cancerous ones. Your first test, ideally, will likely represent the amount of antigen made only by healthy prostate cells.

If you are nearing 50 years old and have not yet had a PSA prostate test, talk to your doctor about it. Generally, you have a 12% chance of developing prostate cancer at some point in your life, WebMD reports (with chances increasing as you age).

However, if you are African American or have an immediate family history of the disease, you are at higher risk. Medical experts advise men in these categories to get their first PSA prostate tests as young as 40 or 45.

How a PSA Prostate Test Is Performed

For many men, the PSA prostate test is worth the prevention because it remains the best tool for catching prostate cancer early. The five-year survival rate is more than 99% in cases where the cancer has not spread to the bones, lungs, and distant parts of the body.

The PSA prostate test is performed in two parts. The first part, a blood sample, is sent to a lab where technicians measure how much PSA is circulating in the blood. In the second part, the prostate exam, the physician inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum to feel for physical abnormalities of the prostate, such as lumps.

The PSA test can alert your doctor to other health issues as well, such as an enlarged prostate (benign prostate hyperplasia, or BPH). BPH is non-cancerous, but PSA levels tend to rise as the prostate enlarges.

Variables that May Affect PSA Prostate Test Results

A condition like BPH is partly why different men may have different “normal” PSA thresholds, and why someone with a reading of 8 could be cancer-free while his friend with a reading of 4 has early-stage cancer.

What matters is if your PSA level bumps up from year to year. But again, non-cancerous conditions can boost your PSA level. Be mindful of these PSA-raising factors:

• Your overall health, such as weight and activity.
• Ejaculation and vigorous exercise.
• Prostate inflammation or infection.
• A recent prostate biopsy (within two months).
• Certain medications, including those for BPH.
• Your age, because PSA tends to increase as you grow older. The average age of men first diagnosed with prostate cancer is 67, the American Cancer Society reports.

Generally, researchers have linked a PSA level of 4 to 10 nanograms per milliliter to a 25% chance of prostate cancer, and a level of more than 10 nanograms to a 50% chance – assuming these levels reveal an increase in PSA.

Getting Ready for Your PSA Prostate Test

Keep the above factors in mind in the days leading to your PSA prostate test. Here is how you can prepare for an accurate reading:

• Make a list of all medications you take for your doctor.
• Do not ejaculate for 48 hours before the test; semen can send PSA into the bloodstream.
• Skip vigorous exercise, especially biking, for a couple of days.
• Reschedule your PSA prostate test if you have a urinary tract infection. A UTI can elevate PSA levels.

Should your PSA prostate test indicate a cancer risk, your physician could recommend further imaging studies (such as an MRI or CT scan) and a biopsy of your prostate tissue.

If prostate cancer is developing, your urologist will work with you to decide your best approach to treatment. Options for local stages (I and II) include active surveillance, robotic surgery to remove the tissue, and radiation. For later stages, you might undergo hormone therapy, immunotherapy, and/or chemotherapy.

Get to Know Your Number Now

Regardless of the number, your baseline PSA prostate test is essential for detecting potential cancerous cell growth in your prostate. Make it an annual event and mark June, Men’s Health Month, as a reminder to schedule your annual PSA prostate test.

You can catch up on prostate cancer news and other urinary health conditions on our blog. Learn more about MidLantic Urology’s advanced prostate cancer treatment, including our physician champions.